 By James H. Cagle |
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10: 29-31 KJV).
There are about 9,000 bird species in the world. Bird watching is a hobby that has many participants studying, watching and admiring these birds.
James Audubon (1785-1851) was a naturalist that spent a lot of time studying and painting American birds. In 1826 he had his book Birds of America published in Great Britain. The Audubon Society is a conservation organization named in honor of James Audubon.
Birds are beautiful and interesting creatures to watch. They come in every size and color. Some people travel great distances and spend large sums of money and a lot of time to watch birds. Others put up a bird feeder and a bird bath close to the house so they can watch birds from the kitchen window or from the back porch.
Most states have a “state bird.” The state bird is a protected bird. The Georgia “state bird” is the brown thrasher. Some birds are protected by law and if someone kills them that person can be tried and sentenced. The eagle and the buzzard are protected. The eagle is protected because it’s the national emblem of America (Ben Franklin wanted it to be the Turkey) and the buzzard because he is a member of nature’s sanitary corps and is responsible for removing the bodies of dead animals.
Some people have a favorite bird. Some people like the song birds. The sweetest songs come from the least attractive birds. Others like the birds of prey, or the water birds or maybe the game birds. The ibis was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, and the owl by the Grecians.
The sparrow is one of the most common and more numerous birds. They are found all over the world. In ancient Israel they were trapped and sold in the market for food. Two were sold for a farthing which is one-fourth (some say one-sixtenth) part of a penny.
Jesus says that this seemingly insignificant bird cannot fall to the ground without God, who watches over it, His knowing about it or without His providential direction. If God has such care for the sparrow, then how much more does He care for you and me? And He is the only One who knows how many hairs there are in our head.
“His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.”
